Link chain



May 31, 1949. G.*A. GOTT! ET AL LINK CHAIN Filed Aug. 14, 194'? wwwPatented May 3 1, 1949 George A Gotti',.New` `York, Andrew KillimiElnif,

hu'rst, and Nicholas vlpiclli, Astoria/,'- N Y.Y

Application Algust=14, 1947;Serial-JN??68,6905:s

I 1 Claim. 1

This invention Irelatesatofa link construction for chains;,fhracelets;fbeltsaand wrist bands.

The `Yprincipal:objectofythis invention is the provision of a jewelrychain of the character described whose'-linkstmayylbestarnped out ofsheet metal andwhoseinterengaging parts may be'locked 'into positionrelative'to each' other. Jewelry chains of this general 'character haveheretofore be'enfinventedzfand patented, but it is believed that theinterlocking constructionI whichf'islherein provided, aiodsverysubstantialfadvantages over thel constructions heretofore knownl The'stamping operation by which'the several parts are made is similar to thestamping operation by which the corresponding parts of knownconstructions may be made, but it is in the position of the respectiveparts that the present construction may be distinguished from the priorconstructions, and it is this changed position of the parts that rendersit possible to interlock them in the manner herein claimed. It is thisnovel positioning of the several parts, together with the novel methodof interlocking Said parts, that constitutes the basic principle of thisinvention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing in which- Fig. l shows a blank of one of the links of theconstruction herein claimed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a plurality of links formed of the blank shownin Fig. 1, showing how these links interengage each other; and

Fig. 3 is a side view of the link construction shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 3also showing one of the links before it is brought into position toengage its adjoining link.

Fig. 1 discloses a complete link before it is bent into appropriateshape. It is simply a flat piece of sheet metal die cut into the designshown in said Fig. l. This design is critical in at least one respect:Its body portion I0 is provided with relatively long extensions Il andrelatively short extensions I2, and each long extension is in line witha short extension, said line being parallel to the long dimension of thebracelet as a whole. The cut-outs I5 provide a decorative note and theirspecific outline is not critical. They should, however, be suflicientlylarge and properly positioned to accommodate the extensions II and I2when the blank is bent upon itself in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

It will be noted that each blank is bent upon itself to form asubstantially U-shaped member with inturned extensions Il and I2. Itwill be seen that a bar or band I1 is formed between bars; wtogetheri,y.witl'r those .tportionst'of `the -body III which ointhe-bars'llconstitute.' the backbone o1"- the link `after@threw-blankis1bent over-v .upon itself asshownfintFi 3.;

It will further e- 4noted: that j whenthe ,blankV is ben-tlf upon-itselt,l as; descrbed,:reachy pair-of s opposing openings I5isbroughttintoeregistration; with itself, so that in plan viewyeachwlinkappearsr I to have only half as many openingsfllcasmthe blankyis shownv,tov have-1finf.f1 "ig-.1 1. .f Thezfljextensions H and I2 are bentinwardly toward each other at, the bending operation taking place, overan angle exceeding It is evident from the last-mentioned bendingoperation that the extensions II and I2 are bent into the form of hooksby which the bars I1 may be engaged through openings I5. This is clearlyshown in Figs. 2 and 3. It will now be understood why it is thatextensions II are somewhat longer than extensions I2. The shorterextensions I2 abut the longer extensions II to prevent the longerextensions from opening up. If these extensions were of equal length,neither would be able to lock the other into closed position. But, sinceone is longer than the other, it is evident that this locking engagementcan take place. It will now be understood why it is necessary to keepeach long extension II in line with a short extension I2. If they werenot in alignment with each other, it would not be possible to bring theminto locking engagement with each other as described.

To nish off the sides of the link construction under discussion, theside edges 20 of the blank are bent toward each other until they extendat an angle of 90 with respect to the body of the link. It will be seenin Figs. 2 and 3 that side edges 20 are brought into a common plane andthat there is no overlapping of one with respect to the other.

It will be understood that the foregoing is a description of a preferredform of this invention and that modifications may be incorporatedtherein within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, Fig.1 shows a blank having iive short extensions I2 and ve long extensions Il. 1t will be appreciated that the blank may be made with a greater orlesser number of such extensions. In every case, however, a longextension may be complemented by a short extension, and each pair ofsuch extensions must lie on a line which is parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the chain as a whole. In Fig. 2 three links are shown to bejoined, but again it will be evident that a greater number of links maybe joined together to form a much longer chain. The number of links tobe used will of course be determined by the length of chain desired andthe size of each link. It will be understood that links of differentdimensions may be joined in a single chain, the sole requirement beingthat the extensions II and I2 of any one link be positioned to engagethe bars I'I of its adjoining link through holes I5. By the same token achain may be formed of links having diierently shaped openings I5. Thejoining of links having diiferently shaped openings I5 will bedetermined by the aesthetic eiect desired to be produced in the chain.It should also be noted that the chain herein described is a exible one,and that it may be used to form bracelets and similar articles ofjewelry. In such case the extensions II and I2 of one of the end linksare caused to engage the bars I'I of the opposite end linkl therebyforming an endless chain.

This invention has been described as a jewelry chain for use primarilyin connection with bracelets, wrist bands and similar articles. It Willbe clearly understood, however, that the link construction hereindescribed may be used for other purposes as well; industrial as well asornamental. Naturally the dimensions and type of material used willdiffer in each case.

We claim:

A link chain comprising a plurality of links,

4 cach of which is provided with upper and lower extension pieces alongthe forward edge of the link, the upper extension pieces being in linewith the corresponding lower extension pieces, the back edge of eachlink being provided with a plurality of bars corresponding in positionto the position of the extension pieces of the adjoining link, alternateupper extension pieces being relatively long and the corresponding lowerextension pieces being relatively short, the remainder of the upperextension pieces being relatively short and their corresponding lowerextension pieces being relatively long, each said upper and lowerextension pieces of one link being bent to form an acute angle aroundthe corresponding bars of the adjoining link in locking engagementtherewith, the outer corners of the free ends of said shorter extensionpieces also engaging the end surface of its longer extension pieces tolock REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in thefile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,702,335 Blaich Feb. 19, 19291,795,038 Prestinari Mar. 3, 1931

